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Friday, September 10, 2010

Defining the Literary

In one of my classes, I'm asking the students to consider what makes a piece of writing literary as opposed to non-literary, like a manual, propaganda or guidebook (all of which, perhaps, could be literary in some way.)

There are dictionary definitions of literature and many possible aspects that make a piece of writing literary. Issues like tone, character, setting, theme, message and audience could be considered. The form that the words take on the page could be considered. The authors themselves, perhaps, are the element that transforms the words into the modules that create a piece of literature.

I’ll leave you with this question to consider over the weekend: What makes writing literary? I hope you’ll share your thoughts below in the Comments section.

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About Me

I am a published poet and freelance writer with an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College in NY. I studied Italian language and literature at Smith College. My poetry chapbook, Unrest, is published by Finishing Line Press.
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I teach creative and composition writing online at Fairleigh Dickinson University, Northampton Community College, Thomas Edison State College and University of Maryland University College. I also work individually with adult students as a writing coach.